By Michaela Gordoni
MALL COP star Kevin James doesn’t do politics — he’d rather make everyone laugh instead of just half the room.
“Politically, for me to speak on it, there are experts who know much more than I do,” the 60-year-old comedian told Variety at the premiere for SOLO MIO. “I’m just focusing on what I can do, delivering a fun, heartfelt break from the craziness of the world.”
He wants to alleviate people’s stress. If he were to engage in politics, that wouldn’t help.
“You’ve got to look around and find the good in things,” he explained. “Otherwise, you’re just not going to function. I want to make people have fun, have hope and get a nice escape in their day.”
He explained, “Very early on, when I started doing stand-up, I knew that if I was going to get a spot on THE TONIGHT SHOW or another TV show, I had to change my act. I didn’t want to be limited by these things…and I wouldn’t write about politics or current events, and I didn’t want to lose my material.”
He wanted to be relatable and “universal.”
Related: Why Kevin James Keeps His Comedy Clean
“It kind of stuck with me that way and [my act] grew into being more family-friendly — it’s sometimes trickier and harder to write that way, but I like it,’ he said.
Comedian Nate Bargatze is also non-political for the same reasons. He just wants everyone to have a laugh.
The comedian, who hosted the 2025 Emmy Awards, said, “It doesn’t matter what religion you are. It doesn’t matter what your politics are. I don’t think I need to guide you in any direction.”
“I can tell you who I am. This is why I tend to be that way, and then I steer it in a direction that welcomes everybody,” he explained. “Whether you’re not a Christian or you’re conservative or Democrat or whatever you are, that’s not what this is about.”
A lot of other celebrities don’t share their political views, like comedian and actor Kevin Hart.
“People are taking things and trying to turn them into political moments,” he told Essence. “I don’t speak on politics, never have. I speak on what I know.”
“For me, I know my lane,” he explained. “The day I jump out that lane and do something else is the day your head gets bit off.”
Dolly Parton also avoids the political scene.
“If I’ve got something to say, I’ll say it, but I don’t want to be dragged into it,” she said. “I don’t really like getting up on TV and saying political things. I don’t even want to make a deal out of it, but I want people to know I’m my own individual self.”
“I’ve got as many Republican friends as I’ve got Democrat friends and I just don’t like voicing my opinion on things,” she added. “I’ve seen things before, like the Dixie Chicks. You can ruin a career for speaking out.”
It seems like all of the celebs may be making a wise choice by staying out of politics.
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